Tent construction

ABSTRACT

A WEDGE-SHAPED TENT HAVING SIDE WALLS WITH AN ENTRANCE FORMED THEREIN. A FLAP IS ATTACHED TO THE SIDE WALLS AND IS ADAPTED TO BE SELECTIVELY MOVED IN COVERING OR UNCOVERING RELATION TO THE ENTRANCE. A DRAWSTRING OF THE CLOTHESLINE TYPE LONGITUDINALLY ENCIRCLES THE APEX EDTE OF THE TENT. THE FLAP IS CONNECTED TO A POINT ALONG THE DRAWSTRING. BY OPERATING THE STRING FROM WITHIN THE TENT, THE FLAP MAY BE MOVED TO COVER OR UNCOVER THE ENTRANCE IN THE TENT WITHOUT REQUIRING A PERSON IN THE TENT TO LEAVE.

NOV. 23, 1971 s L 3,621,85

TENT CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1970 ll Sheets-Shoot 1 Q Benjamin F Sfee/e INVIEN'I'OK,

Nov. 23, 1971 B. F. STEELE ,TENT CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 Filed April 15, 1970 Benjamin F SIee/e INVI'IN'I'OR.

United States Patent 3,621,858 TENT CONSTRUCTION Benjamin F. Steele, 2117 Pecan Drive, Alamogordo, N. Mex. 88310 Filed Apr. 13, 1970, Ser. N0. 27,546 Int. Cl. A4'5f 1/00 U.S. Cl. 135-1 R Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wedge-shaped tent having side walls with an entrance formed therein. A flap is attached to the side walls and is adapted to be selectively moved in covering or uncovering relation to the entrance. A drawstring of the clothesline type longitudinally encircles the apex edge of the tent. The flap is connected to a point along the drawstring. By operating the string from within the tent, the flap may be moved to cover or uncover the entrance in the tent without requiring a person in the tent to leave.

The present invention relates to tent constructions.

With the increase of camping and sporting activities, the public is becoming more aware of the joys and pleasures of outdoor life and as a result, an increased demand for tents exists. Although sleeping tents come in a wide variety, many of them include a net or screen panel that is sewn within the tent entrance. This allows the circulation of fresh air through the tent as well as affording the occupant an outdoor view. During inclement weather, it is necessary to cover the screened entrance and this generally requires that an individual go outside the tent and cover the entrance with a flap. Of course, this is an inconvenience for the individual, particularly when this must be done during periods of precipitation or when the occupant has been sleeping.

The present invention obviates this inconvenience by providing a clothesline type drawstring that passes longitudinally through the tent and which is attached to an outer flap that can be moved over a netted entrance. This can all be done while the occupant remains in the tent. Further, the screen over the entrance in the present invention can be opened from within the tent thereby affording the occupant full versatility in opening or closing the tent without leaving it. One can uncover the entrance in the tent so that the sky can be viewed in clear weather. During inclement weather the flap closes the tent entrance. In order to increase the weatherproof capability of the tent, a waterproof bottom having a marginal lip is attached to the side walls.

It will be noted that the present invention does not require internal supporting structures but rather utilizes a rope longitudinally supporting the apex edge of the tent between two fixed stakes. Therefore, the complete package of the present invention is lightweight and is small enough to be folded into a hip pocket or small storage case. The simplicity of the design allow-s an individual to set up and take the tent down quickly.

These together with other object and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present tent fully installed.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longituditional sectional view taken through a plane passing through section line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 3 where- 3,621,858 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 in a flap for covering an entrance formed in a tent is shown in a fully uncovered position.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating the connection of the flap to a drawstring.

FIG. 6 is a figure similar to that of FIG. 1 wherein the flap has been moved to an opposite end of the tent, thereby uncovering the tent entrance.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the compact nature of the present invention, the figure illustrating the disposition of the folded tent in a conventional lunch box.

The tent construction illustrated in the drawings is meant to represent a one man tent. However, as should be appreciated, the size can be varied to accommodate more than one person.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present tent is seen to be triangular or wedge-shaped and somewhat similar to a pup tent. Parallel spaced stakes 12 and 14 are anchored in the ground and supported by hold-down or guy ropes 15. Smaller sized stakes 16 are employed in the conventional manner to spread the lower edge of the tent and loops 18 are suitably attached to the lower edge of the tent to receive stakes 16.

The tent includes an integrally attached floor v20, preferably fabricated from waterproof nylon or a rubberized material. The floor has a base portion 22 shown in FIG. 2 which extends outwardly to an upwardly extending rectangular marginal flange 24. It will be noted that the flange 24 extends around all four Walls of the tent.

In further detail, the tent includes side walls 25 that are individually comprised of a panel portion 26, preferably of a Waterproof nylon material that hingedly attaches a screen 27 along a joining seam 30'. In FIG. 1, a flap 32 is shown covering the screen 27. As in the usual tent construction, the screen 27 is sewn along the edges of an entrance formed in the side Walls. Triangular shaped end walls 34 and 36 complete the enclosure and they are constructed of a similar material to that of the side walls 26. The solid portions 26 are sewn to the marginal flanges 24 of the floor as indicated by 28. Triangular reinforcing strips 38 are attached to the lower corners of the tent to inhibit wearing.

Considering FIGS. 3 and 4, the screen 27 is seen to be attached to the side walls by a zipper 42. The zipper is operated from inside the tent and when fully unzipped, permits the individual in the tent to throw back the screen across the apex edge of the tent. With the flap 32 also thrown back as indicated in FIG. 4, the individual in the tent has an unobstructed view of the sky and full exposure to the outside.

A rope 44 is connected between stakes 12 and 14 (FIG. 1) and longitudinally supports the underside of the apex edge. Apertures 46 and 50 are formed in the end walls 36 and 34, respectively, to allow passage of rope 44 through the tent. As indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the left end of rope 44 is secured to an eye 48 in stake 12 while the right end of rope 44 is likewise secured to stake 14.

The following discussion deals with a clothesline type arrangement which longitudinally encircles the apex edge of the tent and is connected to flap 32 for selectively covering or uncovering the screened tent entrance.

Referring to FIG. 5, a ring 52 is attached to eye 48 in stake 12 by means of a suitable tie 54. A second ring 56 is connected to stake 14 by means of a tie 58. The clothesline type drawstring for controlling the position of flap 32 passes through rings 52 and 56 at opposite ends of the drawstring. The rings act as pulley wheels in a conventional clothesline construction. In particular, the drawstring is generally indicated by reference numeral 60 and has a lower section 62 that passes through a grommeted aperture 64 in end wall 36. The opposite end of the lower drawstring section passes through a grommeted aperture 66 formed in the opposite end wall 34. The upper drawstring section is indicated by 68 and is horizontally disposed above the apex edge of the tent. An intermediate point along the length of section 68 is connected to the outward point of flap 32 as indicated by reference numeral 70.

In FIG. 5, the outward point of flap 32 has been pulled to its left-most extension thereby overhanging end wall 36 and providing complete coverage for the tent entrance. By properly pulling the lower drawstring section 62, the flap is pulled to the right until the entrance of the tent is partially uncovered as indicated in FIG. 3. As the drawstring is displaced more, the flap fully opens the screened entrance as indicated in FIG. 4. In this figure, the outward point of the flap extends to end wall 34 from its seam attachment 30.

Referring to FIG. 4, a series of adjacently aflixed snap fasteners 72 are seen to be attached to a lower side wall panel 74 below the horizontal section of zipper 42. Mating snap fasteners are attached to flap 32 as shown in FIG. 1 so that when desired, the flap may be snapped closed against the side walls of the tent. As indicated in FIG. 4, this snap closing of the flap can be accomplished by opening the zipper of the screen 27 from the inside thereby allowing access to the snap fasteners 72 and mating fasteners on the flap 32. Of course, this engagement between mating snap fasteners can only be achieved after the drawstring has been moved to close flap 32.

FIG. 7 illustrates the compactness of the present tent construction. In FIG. 7, the tent has been rolled up like a blanket and positioned in a lunch box 78. Due to the small size and weight of the tent, it may be conveniently carried in a hip pocket, small container, or conveniently tucked between camping supplies.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Collapsible tent construction comprising, when erected, a pair of elongated integral side panels divergent downwardly from a full length apex to define a generally tirangular occupant receiving interior, said side panels having first ends extending in the same vertical plane, a first generally triangular end panel fixed to said first ends and forming a first end closure for the interior, said side panels having second ends extending in the same vertical plane, a second generally triangular end panel positioned between said panels near the second ends thereof and forming a second end closure for the interior, a screen, said screen including a pair of screen sections diverging downwardly from an upper apex, said screen underlying said side panels and including a first end peripherally secured to the second end panel and a second end secured along the length thereof to the interior of said side panels at an intermediate point between said end panels, said side panels, for a portion thereof at and inward of the second end panel, being foldable as a unit upwardly and away from said second end panel toward said first end panel to expose said screen.

2. The tent construction of claim 1 wherein said screen is selectively separable from said second end panel and outwardly and upwardly movable to allow passage between the interior and exterior of said tent.

3. The tent construction of claim 2 wherein said second end panel is in inwardly spaced relation to the second ends of said side panels, said side panels forming a protective overhang outward of said second end panel.

4. The tent construction of claim 3 including a control means for the screen overlying foldable portion of said side panels, said control means comprising a pair of supports located longitudinally outward of the opposite ends of said tent and an endless controlled line slideably engaged with said supports, said control line having first and second runs paralleling the apex defined between the side panels, one of said runs extending over the apex exterior of said tent and being secured to the extreme end of the apex at the second ends of the side panels, the second run extending below the apex through the interior of the tent for manipulation thereof by an occupant of the tent, such manipulation effecting a controlled movement of the upper run and the apex end secured thereto.

5. The tent construction of claim 2 including a floor provided below and between said side panels, said floor having a pair of opposed full length upturned edge flanges along the opposed side edges thereof, the lower edges of said side panels, between the screen and the first end panel, being fixed to the floor flanges, said screen sections, along the lower edges thereof, being releasably secured to said floor flanges for a selective release of the lower edges of the screen sections for an opening of the screen sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,796 3/1887 Lewis l3514 V 528,392 10/1894 Rinn 135l4D 1,198,773 9/1916 Robinson 1358 1,239,550 9/1917 Wykert 1351 R 1,704,945 3/1929 Leffert 1351 R PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner 

